Sliver drafter evener



Jan. 10, 1956 Filed April 18, 1950 D. E. CUSHING ET AL SLIVER DRAFTER EVENER heats-Sheet l lllllll I I I "M III III ITHIH MIN VEN TOR.

DAN/E L E. CUSH/NG nrr wnej Jan. 10, 1956 D. E. CUSHING ETAL 2,729,857

SLIVER DRAFTER EVENER Filed April 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. DAN/EL E. OUSH/NG HOMER CUSH/NG Ina 44 2f.

H TTOPMEX Jan. 10, 1956 D. E. CUSHING ET AL SLIVER DRAFTER EVENER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 18, 1950 INVENTOR. DAN/EL E. CUSH/NG HOMER CUSH/WG Jan. 10, 1956 D. E. CUSHING ET AL 2,729,857

SLIVER DRAFTER EVENER Filed April l8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 5 5

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INVENTOR. DAN/E L E. GUSH/NG OMER CUSH/NG BYWM%W Jan. 10, 1956 D. E. CUSHING ET AL 2,729,357

SLIVER DRAFTER EVENER Filed April 18, .1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. DAN/EL E. GUSH/NG HOMER CUSH/NG WW /7W United States Patent SLIVER DRAFTER EVENER Daniel E. Cushing and Homer Cushing, Reisterstown, Md.

Application April 18, 1950, Serial No. 156,662 1 Claims. (Cl. 19-40 This invention is directed to a drafting-evener for drafting and evening slivers and similar continuous forms of fibers prior to spinning. I

The drafting and evener mechanism may receive the sliver directly from a card and deposit it in the usual can, omitting the drawing frame which usually takes the sliver from the cans into which it was deposited from the card. Although evening mechanisms are very old they have substantially passed from use and present gen eral practice has been to draw six slivers at the same time and then unite them into a single sliver of approximately the same weight as one of the previous six slivers and the averaging of the inequalities previously existing in the single slivers has been relied upon to produce a reasonably even sliver for spinning. In such usual process it will be apparent that the drafting of each of the slivers to reduce a yard of one down to one sixth of its former weight must be considerable and at times the drafting to such a considerable degree, rather than evening the sliver, has increased the uneveness because a a thin sec-.

tion tends to become more thin and the thick sections tend to retain their knotty condition, and therefore to remain thick. Measurements to determine evenness of slivers are generally taken by weight, but the correction of unevenness is usually accomplished by considering the thickness of the sliver. The drafting-evener of the present invention is designed to take a sliver of slightly greater weight per yard than the final desired product and draft it and at the same time even it, but the evening process takes place precisely at the place required in the sec-. tion of the passing sliver. Since one sliver alone is used in making the final product of the single sliver, rather than six as heretofore, the drafting is of a relatively small amount and since it is performed between two adjacent sets of rolls and the speed up or slow down of the drafting rolls takes place while the thick or thin portion of the sliver is actually between the thickness sensitive or operation. All known eveners heretofore have been placed'aheadof thedrawing frame and the correction has been made in these former eveners by taking slivers from a can at a non-uniform speed, depending upon the correction required, and then delivering the sliver to the drawing frame at a uniform speed. This operation is the reverse of the instant one and fails to achieve many advantages of the instant invention.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the drafting-evener attached to the usualcan with a portion mechanism being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 3 is a partial side elevation, on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse fragmentary elevational view on line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the first of the feed rolls.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal elevational view, partly in section of the feeding rolls on line 77 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view on line 8--8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary crosssectional view on line 1010 of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly schematic, of the switch operating mechanism.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, on line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the support for the reverse gear supporting shaft.

In the drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

' The drafting-evener generally indicated at 1 is preferably placed in the coiler head 2 from which the usual two coiler calender rolls have been removed, although the balance of the old coiler mechanism is preferably left intact. The vertical shaft 3 driven from a. pulley 4 operated by a belt from the card as heretofore used operates the coiler mechanism in the coiler head, as well as of the operating rotating the bottom plate 5 on which the can 6 is mounted detector rolls, the needed thinning or thickening ofthe passing sliver is immediately imparted to that sliver so that there is not only no need of the extensive drafting heretofore practiced to obtain an even sliver but the excessive drafting and its corresponding injury to the sliver and its fibers is avoided. In the eveners heretofore used, the evening operation has always taken place at some distance from the detector rolls, the uneven portion had not yet reached the location of the change of speed of the adjacent rolls.

In the evcner of this invention the sliver is taken directly from the card which has a uniform delivery and it is received by the feed rolls of the instant invention at this uniform speed, these rolls being preferably driven from the card at this uniform speed. The sliver then passes from the feed rolls to the drafting-evener rolls, which are also the detector rolls, and these rolls are either speeded or slowed from their previously adjusted drafting speed, according to the requirements of the sliver and the sliver is then delivered at a possibly uneven rate to the usual can in which it is coiled and stored for further and rotated as it receives the sliver from'the coiler head. The coiler head 2 has therein transverse shaft 7 which has thereon a bevelled gear 8 which is driven by a bevelled gear 9 on the top of vertical shaft 3; H

Two pairs of feed rolls each of similar construction are mounted in U-shaped brackets on casting 10, on base 11 in coiler head 2, the lower rolls 12 are on shafts 13 and 14 and the upper rolls 15 are mounted on shafts 16 and 17. The shafts 13 and 14 are mounted in similar lower sections of bearings in the U-shaped brackets of casting 10 and upper sections of these bearings 18 have rods 19 passing therethrough and through the U-shaped brackets to securely hold the upper sections of the bearings 18 in place. Upper bearings 20 for the shafts 16 and 17 are freely vertically mounted in the U-shaped brackets and these bearings 20 have rods 21 screwed into their tops, which rods have compression springs 22 therearound bearing vertically upon the bearings 20*, plates 23 with holes in their ends are placed over the rods 21 and bear down on the springs 22. Two stay-bolts 24 mounted at their lower ends on 'rods 19 pass respectively through holes in the center of plates 23 and their tops are threaded to receive thereover nuts 25 to apply a balanced compression to the respective springs 22 and correspondpartly in section,

ing bearings 20. the shafts 16 and 17 therein and the rolls on the shafts. If desired individual nuts 26 may be placed over the threaded tops of the separate rods 21.

Rolls 12 have central grooves 27 therein and rolls, 15 have extending central enlargements 2S thereon accurately fitting the grooves 27' in rolls 12; This enlarged center section of the upper rolls and the grooved section of the lower rolls serve to confine the slivers closely within the grooves in the lower rolls. Trumpets 29 are preferably placed at'the entrance to the grooves in the respective lower rolls to guide the sliver accurately thereinto.

Lower andupper drafting-evener rolls 30 and 31 similar in construction to the feed rolls are mounted on shafts 32 and 33 mounted in lower bearings 34 and upper bearings 35 respectively and these hearings are mounted in U-shaped arms 36 extending from the casting 10 on base 11 of the coiler head 2.

The upper bearings 35 of the drafting-evener roll 31 have, a plate 37 extending across the tops of the two bearings, this plate 37 has thickened ends and is screwed to the tops of bearings 35 and screwed thereto centrally of the plate 37 is a yoke 38. A rod 39, sloping downwardly across the top of the machine, is affixed at one end in bar which inturn is pivoted at its ends in the tops of the U-shaped members 36. This rod 39 bears down onthe yoke 38 and the rod 39 is raised as a sliver passes between rolls 30and 31 and the rod raises and lowers according to the unevenness of that passing sliver. A trumpet 41 receives the sliver from the drafting-evener rolls 30 and 31 and passes it between the calendar rolls 41 and 42 which are placed transversely of the coiler head 7 and their center is directly over the sliver openingin base 11 of the coiler head, just above the old revolving plate in the coiler head which receives the sliver and coils it in the can.

Shaft 7 has a gear 432d one end thereofon one side of the. machine which in turn drives gear 44 on stub shaft 45 mounted on the side of the machine, gear 44 in turn drives gear 46 on shaft 13. Gear 46 drives gear 47 on shaft 16. Gear 46 also drives gear 48 on stub shaft 49 mounted in the side of the machine and gear 48 drives gear 50 on shaft 14. Gear 50 in turn drives gear 51 on shaft 17. Thus theupper and lower feed rolls are driven at a constant speed from the card.

Shaft 13 extends through the machine to a bearing mounted. on angular plate 61 attached by bolts 62 to the other side of the coiler head. A shaft 63 is likewise mounted in a bearing 64 at one end on plate 61 and at the other end it is mounted. in a bearing 65 mounted on an extension 66 from one of the U-shaped members on casting .10 on base 11, Figures 2. and 4.

Shaft 63 has adjacent its inner end gear 67 driving gear I 68 mounted on a stub shaft 69- in extension 66 and gear 68 in turn drives gear 59 on the. inner end of shaft 32. This gear on the inner end of shaft 32 in turn drives gear 70 on shaft 33, thus driving the upper and lower draftingevener rolls. 7

The lower drafting-evener roll shaft- 32 has on its outer end a gear 71 which drives a gear 72 on stub shaft 73 mounted in casting 10 on the base 11. Gear 72 inturn drives gear 74 on the shaft 75 of calendar roll 41 and gear 74 in turn drives gear 76 on shaft 77 of calendar roll .42. Thus the calendar rolls 41'and 42 are. driven in timed relation with the drafting-evener rolls.

Shafts l3 and 63' have splined thereon divided pulleys 80 and 81. The hubs of these pulleys are grooved as at 82, Figure 2, and in. these grooves ride'pinson facing sides of the respective pairs of pivoted arms 83 and 84.

c Arms 84 are pivoted at 85 on plate 61 and arms 83 are evener rolls, pulley 80 being. driven at a constant speed.

Arms 83 and 84 are constrained together at one end by spring 89. At this same end both arms 84 are attached together by a vertical bolt and spaced thereon by sleeve 91 and both arms 83 are connected together by bolt 92 and spaced by a similar sleeve 91. These respective bolts 90 and 92 have their threaded ends extending through the center of downwardly turned yokes 93 and 94 respectively. These yokes have in them threaded blocks 95 and 96 respectively held in the yokes by pins 97.

Shaft 99 is mounted in a bracket 100 on an angle 101 extending from the inside of the coiler head 2. The bracket 100 has a set screw 102 therein, the inner end of which rides in a groove 103 cut into the shaft 99 circumferentially. Shaft 99 has keyed thereon bevelled gears 104 and 105 which are moved longitudinally of the shaft by yoke 106 which yoke has at its two ends forks 107 riding. in grooves 108 in the hubs 109 of gears 104 and 105. Gears 104 and 105 may ride free of any contact with gear 110 on either gear 104 or 105' may be driven by gear 110. Gear 110 is mounted on a shaft passing through abearing 111 mounted on the edge of the coiler head 2 and having on its other end a bevelled gear 112 driven by gear 8 on shaft 7. Yoke 106 is mounted on shaft 113 which is mounted at one end in bracket 100 and at its other end in bracket 114 mounted on extension 115, extending from the coiler head 2. Shaft 113 has thereon two compression springs 116 and 117 which tend to maintain the yoke 106 central, to prevent the engagement of either gear 104 or 105 with gear 110.

Shaft 99 also has thereon, as most clearly shown in Figure 10, reverse sets of threads 118 and 119, These threads are engaged bycorresponding threads in blocks 96 and 95 respectively; A spring 120 surrounds shaft 99' between the two blocks whose function is to assure that when the blocks ride off the shaft threads centrally, the spring will spread the two blocks to engage the threads for renewed operation of the speed change device upon the reversal of the direction of rotation of shaft 99. An additional spring 121 is at the outer end of shaft 99 and is heldby collar 122' in a constant state of light compression against the block 95. Collar 122 is'held on the shaft 99by set screw 123'.

' Shaft 39 is pivoted at its free end to rod 125. Pivoted at 126 on one side of the coiler head 2 is a weighted beam 127 with a lengthwise movable weight 128 at one end and this beam has pivoted thereto at. 129 the rod and the vertical position of the atttachment of the beam to rod 125 may be accurately adjusted by nuts 130 and 131 on rod 125. Also pivoted to the side of the coiler head 2 at 132 is a lever 133 having near its free end a bolt 134 screwed tight to the lever and riding longitudinally and pivoting in slot 135 in the end of beam. 127, see Figure l 1. Lever 133 has a bracket 136 at its free end holding an arcuate two-contact mercury switch 137. In the position of the parts shown in the drawing no sliver is passing through the drafting-evener rolls so that the beam 127 has 7 rocked the mercury switch far to the left as shown in Figure 11. When the sliver for which the machine is adjusted, that is when the machine is adjusted for a sliver of the desired predetermined thickness, the mercuryswitch. 137 is substantially horizontal and the mercury shown in dotted lines in the switch 137 is substantially in the center of the tube and neither contact is closed. In this position of neutrality, likewise, neither bevelled gear 104 or 105is engaged with the driven, gear The respective contacts of switch 137 are in circuit with solenoids 140. and 141. The armatures 142 and 143 of these solenoids are. attached to. the opposite ends of a T bar 144 which is attached at 145 to shaft 113 to move it transversely toshift the gear reversing mechanism.

. From the above description it, will be apparent that the machine may be set for a predetermined thickness of sliver with the change speed mechanism in the predetermined ratio to drive the drafting-evener rolls at the increased or drafting speed over the feed rolls, to give the desired draft to the sliver. It will also be apparent that should a thinner section of sliver meet the drafting-evener rolls that the arm 39 will be lowered and the gear 104 will engage the constantly driven gear 110 to spread the arms 83 and 84 so that the pulley 80 drives the pulley 81 slower. When a too thick sliver meets the draftingevener rolls the opposite eifect is given to the pulley 81, to drive it faster. The impartation of this change of speed to the drafting-evener rolls is instantaneous with the appearing of the sliver between them departing from the predetermined desired thickness.

When the departure of the sliver from the predetermined thickness is excessive the speed change device continues to change the speed of the drafting-evener rolls at an accelerated speed until the ends of the threads on shaft 99 are met in which event the blocks run off the threads. With a greater excess of thickness of sliver the first trumpet 29 would probably break the sliver. The departure of the speed of the drafting-evener rolls from their desired drafting speed will be maintained by the mechanism so long as the sliver departing from the predetermined thickness is passing through the evener rolls. Then the balance beam 127 returns the mercury switch to neutral which in turn allows the gears 104 and 105 to return to neutral under the reaction of the springs 116 and 117.

Although the gentle drafting pull of the smooth rolls will not break the fibers of the sliver when the rolls are not separated the length of the fibers, it is preferable that both the two sets of feed rolls and the driving-evener rolls be separated from each other the length of the fibers on the sliver.

On an actual mill test taken from the records of the mill with the usual drawing frame in which six slivers each of an initial 55 grain weight entered the frame and they were drafted and formed into a single sliver of 55 grain weight, tests showed the final sliver had a variation of 11 grains per yard, or a variation of 17.4%. When this same sliver after the averaging and drafting process of the drawing frame was made into mill yarn there was an average variation of 13 grains per 120 yards or 8.3% with an average breaking strength of 1.70 pounds per grain. With the instant drafting-evener an average of ten tests beginning with an 80 grain sliver and ending after passing through the drafting-evener with a 55 grain sliver, the sliver after leaving the drafting-evener had an average variation per yard of 4.9 grains or expressed in per cent, of 8.2% as contrasted with the average variation per yard from the drawing frame sliver of 11 grains per yard or 17.4%. When this same sliver from the draftingevener was made into mill yarn there was an average variation per 120 yards of 8.4 grains or 5.5% with a breaking strength of 1.74 pounds per grain which will be noted is a considerable improvement over these factors in regard to the mill yarn made from the drawing frame sliver. The initial sliver passed through the drawing frame was on the average slightly more uniform in weight than the beginning sliver passed through the draftingevener which showed a 26.3% variation. It is believed that the considerable advantage attained by the drafting evener is largely attributable to the lessened amount of drawing, the immediacy of the application of the speed change to the detection and the extreme sensitiveness of the action of the change of speed of the drafting-evener rolls upon the receipt by them of a sliver departing from the predetermined thickness.

It will be apparent that various modifications in the precise construction of the machine may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

W 1. A sliver drafter-evener comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, a set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from and imme-' diately adjacent the feed rolls for the passage of the sliver therebetween as it is received from the feed rolls, means to hold the drafter-evener rolls resiliently together, the drafter-evener rolls beingvariably and relatively spaced upon passage therebetween of a sliver varying from a predetermined thickness, means connected with said drafting-evener rolls sensitive to their variable relative spacing, means to drive the rolls of each set at the same speeds, means to coordinate the driving means between the two sets of rolls to substantially always drive the set of drafting-evener rolls faster than the set of feed rolls to draft the sliver, and means to connect the sensitive means to the drive coordinating means to vary the speed of the drafting-evener rolls, to increase the speed when a sliver thicker than the predeterminetd thickness passes between the drafting-evener rolls and to decrease it when a thinner sliver passes therebetween.

2. A sliver drawer-evener comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, an immediately adjacent set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed rolls at least substantially the length of the fibers in the sliver for the passage of the sliver therebetween immediately as it is received from the feed rolls, means to hold the drafter-evener rolls resiliently together, the drafter-evener rolls being variably and relatively spaced upon passage therebetween of a sliver varying from a predetermined thickness, means connected with said drafting-evener rolls sensitive to their variable relative spacing, means to drive the rolls of each set at the same speeds, means to coordinate the driving means between the two sets of rolls to substantially always drive the set of drafting-evener rolls faster than the set of feed rolls to draft the sliver, and means to connect the sensitive means to the drive coordinating means to vary the speed of the drafting-evener rolls, to increase the speed when a sliver thicker than the predetermined thickness passes between the drafting-evener rolls and to decrease it when a thinner sliver passes therebetween.

3. A sliver drafting-evener comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, an immediately adjacent set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed rolls for the passage of the sliver therebetween as it is received from the feed rolls, means to hold the drafter-evener rolls resiliently together, the drafter-evener rolls being variably and relatively spaced upon passage therebetween of a sliver varying from a predetermined thickness, means connected with said drafting-evener rolls sensitive to their variable relative spacing, means to drive the rolls of each set at the same speeds, means including a pair of electro-magnets to coordinate the driving means between the two sets of rolls to substantially always drive the set of drafting-evener rolls faster than the set of feed rolls to draft the sliver, and means including switches to operate said magnets to connect the sensitive means to the drive coordinating means to vary the speed of the drafting-evener rolls, to increase the speed when a sliver thicker than the predetermined thickness passes between the drafting-evener rolls and to decrease it when a thinner sliver passes therebe tween, said drive coordinating means including means to continue the increased or decreased speed so long as the too thick or too thin sliver is passing between the drafting-evener rolls.

4. A sliver drafter-evener comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, an immediately adjacent set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed rolls for the passage of the sliver therebetween as it is received from the feed rolls, means to hold the drafter-evener rolls resiliently together, the drafter-evener rolls being variably and relatively spaced upon passage therebetween of a sliver varying from a predetermined thickness, means connected with said drafting-evener rolls sensitive to their variable relative spacing, means to drive the rolls of each set at the same speeds, means to coordinate the driving means between the two sets of rolls to substantially always drive the set of drafting-evener rolls faster than the set of feed rolls to draft the sliver, means to connect the sensitive means to the drive coordinating means to vary the speed of the drafting-evener rolls, to increase the speed when a sliver thicker than the predetermined thickness passes between the drafting-evener rolls and to decrease it when a thinner sliver passes therebetween and means included in said drive coordinating means to accelerate or decelerate the change of speed of the drafting-evener rolls in proportion to the sliver departure from the predetermined thickness.

5. A sliver drafter-evener comprising a set ofv opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, an immediately adjacent set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed rolls for the passage of the sliver therebetween as it is received from the feed rolls, means to hold the drafter-evener rolls resiliently together, the drafter-evener rolls being variably and relatively spaced upon passage therebetween of a sliver varying from a predetermined thickness, means connected with said draftingevener rolls sensitive to their variable relative spacing, means to drive the feed rolls at a constant speed, means including a change speed device to drive the drafting evener rolls from the first said driving means, alternate direction driving means connected to the change speed device, to drive the drafting-evener rolls either faster or slower and means including a pair of electro-magnets and switches operated by the sensitive means to connect the sensitive means to operate said alternate direction driving means in either direction.

6.. A silver drafter-evener comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, a set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed rolls for the passage of the sliver thcrebetween as it is received from the feed rolls, means connected with said drafting evener rolls sensitive to the thickness of the sliver passing between the drafting-evener rolls, a pivoted double contact mercury switch rocked by said sensitive means to close one contact when a sliver thicker than a predetermined thickness passes through the draftingevener rolls, and rocked to close the other contact when a'thinner sliver passes therethrough, means to drive the feed rolls at a constant speed, means including a change speed device to drive the drafting-evener rolls from the first said driving means, alternate direction driving means connected to the change speed device, to actuate the change speed device to drive the drafting-evener rolls either taster or slower, electrically actuated means for operating said alternate direction driving means said mercury switch being electrically connected to theelectrically actuated means for operating the alternate direction driving means to drive the dra fling-evener rolls faster when a sliver thicker than the predetermined thickness passes through the drafting-evener rolls and slower when a thinner sliver passes therethrough.

7. A sliver drafter-evener comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, a set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed rolls for the passage of the sliver therebetween as it is received from the feed rolls, means connected with said draftingevener rolls sensitive to the thickness of the sliver passing between the drafting-evener rolls, a pivoted double contact mercury switch rocked by said sensitive means to close one contact when a sliver thicker than a predetermined thickness passes through the drafting-evener rolls, and rocked to close the other contact when a, thinner sliver passes therethrough, a pair of solenoids each having armature bar's therein, each solenoid being electrically connected toone contact of themercury switch, the solenoids being energized upon the closing'of the respective contact, means to drive the feed rolls at a constant speed, means including a change speed device to drive the drafting-evener rolls from the first said driving means, alternate direction driving means connected to the change speed device, to actuate the change speed device to drive the drafting-evener rolls either faster or slower, the bars of the solenoids being connected to the alternate direction driving means to drive the drafting-evener rolls faster when a sliver thicker than the predetermined thickness passes through the drafting-evener rolls and slower when a thinner sliver passes therethrough.

8. A sliver drafter-evener' comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, a set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed rolls for the passage of the sliver therebetwecn as it is received from the feed rolls,'means to hold the drafterevener rolls resiliently together, the drafter-evener rolls being variably and relatively spaced upon passagefithcrebetween of a sliver varying from'a predetermined thickness, means connected with said drafting-evener rolls sensitive to their variable relative spacing, means to drive the feed rolls at a constant speed, a pair of belt connected expansibie pulleys connected to drive the drafting-evener rolls from the first said driving means, pulley expanding and contracting pivoted arms to change the relative speeds of said two pulleys, alternate direction driving means connected to said arms to move the same to drive the drafting-evener rolls either faster or slower and means to connect the sensitive means including a pair of electro-magnets and switches connected to the sensitive means to operate said alternate direction driving means in either direction.

9. A silver drafter-evener comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver therebetween, a set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed, rolls for the passage of the sliver therebetween as it is received from the feed rolls, means connected with said drafting-evener rolls sensitive to the thickness of the sliver passing between the drafting-evener rolls, means to drive the feed rolls at a constant speed, a pivoted douole contact mercury switch rocked by said sensitive means to close one contact when a sliver thicker than a predetermined thickness passes through the drafting-evener rolls, and rocked to close the other contact when athinner sliver passes therethrough, a pair of belt connected expansible pulleys connected to drive the drafting-evener rolls from the first said driving means, pulley expanding and contracting pivoted arms to change the relative speeds of said two pulleys, alternate direction driving means connected to said arms to move the same to drive the drafting-evener rolls either faster or slower, electrically actuated means for operating said alternate direction driving means said mercury switch being electrically con nected to the electrically actuated means for operating the alternate direction driving means to drive the draft ing-evener rolls faster when a sliver thicker than the predetermined thickness passes through the drafting evener rolls and slower when a thinner sliver passes therethrough.

10. A sliver drafter-evener comprising a set of opposed feed rolls for the passage of a sliver thercbetween, a set of opposed drafting-evener rolls spaced from the feed rolls for the passage of the sliver therebetween as it is received from the feed rolls, means connected with said draftingevener rolls sensitive to the thickness of the sliver passing between the drafting-evener rolls, means to drive the feed rolls at a constant speed, a pivoted'doubl'e contact mercury switch rocked by said sensitive means to close one contact when a sliver thicker than a predetermined thickness passes through the drafting-evener rolls, and rocked to close the other contact when a thinner sliver passes therethrough, a pair of solenoids each havingv armature bars therein, each solenoid being electrically con' 'nected to one contact of the mercury switch, thc solenoids being energized upon the closing of the respective contact, a pair of belt connected expansible pulleys connected to drive the drafting-evener rolls from the first said driving means, pulley expanding and contracting pivoted arms to change the relative speeds of said two pulleys, al-

9 i0 ternate direction driving means connected to said arms to References Cited in the file of this patent move the same to drive the drafting-evener rolls either UNITED STATES PATENTS faster or slower, the bars of the solenoids being connected to the alternate direction driving means to drive 2845 "hitehead Sept g" the drafting-evener rolls faster when a sliver thicker than 5 gigs et 2; 1910 t t he predetermined thickness passes hrough the dra g 1,132,316 Eves Mar. 16 1915 t evener rolls and slower when a thinner shver passes here 2,037,676 Clue p 1936 thmgh' 2,407,100 Richardson Sept. 3, 1946 10 2,542,331 Hiensch Feb. 20, 1951 

